Dance shoe protector



Marchas, 193s. y R C, PAUL4 2,110,890l

DANCE SHOE PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 14, 1966 Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y Richard C. Paul, Los Angeles, Calif.A Application November 14, 1936, Serial No. 110,891

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a protecting cover for the shoes of a toe-dancer. The shoes of toe-dancers must be danced in for a time, in order to break them in. These shoes are quite 5 costly, and are finished on the outside in satin, or other suitable material of different colors. In using these shoes in rehearsals, and in breaking them in,A the satin covering such shoes may become so worn and soiled that new shoes must be substituted for the act. For this reason the expense for toe-dancing shoes, and the loss due to such wear and tear in rehearsals, is relatively great.

In toe-dancing, frequently the sides of the shoe come in contact with the floor, and the dancers foot may be moved across the floor in that position. This makes it very difcult to retain a protecting cover on a dance shoe. The contact with the floor also soils the satin sides of the shoe.

The general object of this invention is to provide a cover of simple construction, which a toedancer can rea-dily apply over her dancing shoes, `and which will operate to protect the shoe while the said shoes are being broken in, or used in rehearsals.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a cover of this type having a special construction, which will facilitate its ready attachment to a dance shoe, and which will insure that the cover will be securely held in .place on the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protector for the shoe of a toe dancer, having means for effectively securing the cover to the shoe at its sides; also to construct the protector so that it can cooperate with the tie tapes or ribbons of the shoe, to retain the protector on the dancing shoe.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in its novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an eicient cover for a toe-dancers shoe.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating a cover embodying my invention, and representing the same as applied over the shoe of a toe-dancer. This View also illustrates the means whereby the tying band of the inner shoe cooperates with the shoe cover to hold the shoe cover in position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of theprotector removed from the shoe, and partially open at the front. y `5 Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the protector.

Fig. 4 is a section taken about on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, with the lower portion broken away, and particularly illustrating the preferred arrangement of a tie that may cooperate with the tying tapes,or ribbons of the dancers shoe to retain the protector on the shoe.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the invention, it should be stated that I am aware that covers have been used heretofore, but to thebest of my knowledge such covers have not been constructed so as to insure their maintaining themselves properly in place on the dance shoe, and hence the same have not been found satisfactory. 20

In accordance with my invention, the cover I has a body preferably constructed of a stout fabric, and at the forward end the material of the cover is cut away or formed so that two divergent edges 2 result, forming an angle in which I attach an insert, gore or segment 3, which preferably consists of a resistant material such as light leather. This segment preferably consists of chromium tanned horse hide. It must be exible, washable, and capableof stretching sufciently to conform substantially to the shape of the toe of the' dancers shoe. This insert constitutes a segment that protects the toe of the dancing shoe when the dancer is dancing on her toes. The segment should be attached with its smooth side outermost, and its rough side in contact with the satin surface of the shoe. This is important because the rough inner face assists in preventing the segment from shifting out of its proper position on the toe of the shoe.

This cover is provided with means for securing the same at the sides of the dance shoe, or at the back, and preferably at both of these points. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose, but in practice I prefer to utilize the usual ankle tapes or ribbons 4, that are usually provided on such dance shoes. There are generally two of, these ribbons or tie tapes 4 that are secured to the dance shoe at the side points 5, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Adjacent the points 5 the cover I is preferably provided with loops 6, and the tapes or ribbons 4 are threaded through these loops and then tied around the foot in the usual manner. If desired, the cover may also be provided with a loop 6a 55 2f'Y f at the heel, and if desired one of the wraps, such as the Wrap 'I of the tape or ribbon 4, may be passed through this loop 6. 'Ihis will insure that the heel portion of the cover will not sag down. These tapes 4 may be tied together at the front in the usual manner to form a bow 8.

The cover I is most conveniently formed of two side members la and Ib, which have the same form except that one is a right and the other a leftY 'I'hese two side members Ia and Ib are preferably connected together by a sole seam 9 that extends all the way along the sole and up the rear of the heelat I0. At the front the f orward edges II of the side members la and Ib are not permanently secured together, butk are'. left unattached so as to form a gaplr.,J and at this point I prefer to provide eyelets I3to receive'a lacing or cord I4, the free ends I5-'of'w-hich may pass upwardly to enable the edges I I to be drawn together to secure the cover at the front.

The loops 6 may if desired, be part of a drawstring I 8, the forward portions -of which run freely in a hem I'I formed at the upper edge of the protector and forwardly ony the same. A short distance back of the rear end I8 of this hem I'I, the drawstring I6 is secured by stitches I9 (see Fig; 4) sothat the portion of the string between this stitching and the rear'end I8 of the hem I'I, forms the loop 6. From, this point the drawstring extends back to the heel I0, being secured near the heel if desired, by stitches 20 and 2|.

It will be evident that whenthe lacing at the front of the protector isrloosened up, the toe of the dancing shoe can be readily applied within the toe of the cover, and the cover can then be readily slipped over the remainder of the dancingshoe. The lacingsat the gap I2 can then be tightened.up-andthetie tapes 4 or ribbons passed through the loops 6 and 6a, and then Wrapped around the dancers ankle and tied in the bow 8.

In order to prevent forming a projecting edge at the margins of the segment 3, I prefer to have the edges 22 of. the segmentlie on the inner faces of the side pieces (see Fig. 3). These edges are secured by stitches 23.

If desired, at the gap I2 I may provide the cover with a tongue 24 such as is usually employed under lacings, and attached at one of its side edges to the cover.

What I claim is:

1. A protector for a. toe-dancers shoe, comprising a cover formed of fabric for enveloping the shoe and conforming to the Same, saidcover beingV non-elastic adjacent the toe and having a segment of resistant material attached directly to the same for covering the toe of theshoe, said segment having a smooth outer surface, and a rough inner surface to come into contact with the shoe, operating to prevent the cover from shifting on the shoe, said cover having means at the side for supporting the cover on said shoe.

2. A protector for a toe-dancers shoe, comprising a cover formed of fabric enveloping the shoe and conforming to the same, said cover being non-elastic adjacent the toe and having a segment of resistant material attached directly to the same for covering the toe of the shoe, said segment having a smooth outer surface, and a rough inner surface incontact' with the shoe, operating to prevent the cover from shifting on the shoe, said cover having a loop adjacent the heel for supporting the cover on the shoe.

3: At protector for a toe-dancers shoe having ankle tapesatthe sides thereof, comprising a cover formedl of fabric for enveloping the shoe and' conforming to the same, said cover being non-elastic adjacent the toe and having a segment of vresistant material covering the toe of the shoe,- having a smooth outer surface, and a rough inner surface to come into contact with the shoe, saidv cover having means. for receiving the ankle tapes of the dancers shoe for supporting the cover on the shoe.

4. Protecting means for the toe of. al toedancersshoe having tying tapes, consisting of a cover formed of fabric for enveloping the shoe and conformingv to the same, said cover having a segment ofresistant material attachedl directly to the same for covering the toe of the shoe, the inner face of the segment being in Contact with the shoe, said cover having a gap at the front above the toe of the shoe With means for tightening the cover on the shoe at the gap, and loops on the cover receiving said tapes for supporting the cover on. ther shoe.

5. Protecting means for the toe of a toedancers shoe having. tying tapes, consisting of a cover formed of'fabric for enveloping the shoe and conforming to the same, said cover. having a segment of resistant material attached directly to the same for covering the toe of theshoe, the inner face ofthe segment being rough andplaced so as to come into contact with the shoe, said cover having a gap at the front over the toe of theV shoe, with cords for tightening the cover at said gap, said cords extending rearwardly at the sides of the cover and forming. loops at the sides, to receive the tying.A tapes and support the cover on the shoe.

6. In protecting means for a toe-dancers shoe, a cover conforming to the shoe and having a gap with avlacing at the front and over the toe, said cover having.l loops at the side to receive the ankle tying tapes of the shoe to secure the cover on the shoe.

RICHARD C. PAUL. 

